Description: What are editors looking for when they open one of the pieces sent to their submission box? Of the hundreds they receive, which will stand out among the rest? Which will capture their attention after a long day of work or attending class? And most importantly, which will do it quickly—within the first few pages?

This four-week crash course will take writers through the essential elements of short fiction or nonfiction crafted to hook readers from the start, emphasizing strategies that offer an advantage in the “slush pile” while maintaining the author’s unique style and vision. By exploring the practices of established and up-and-coming writers, tackling common pitfalls, honing craft and dialogue to suit a story’s sensibility, and playing with pace, writers can come away with a finished draft that grabs its readers and doesn’t let go. 

Each class is designed to focus on a main theme allowing for conversation around an accessible/one-sitting reading assignment, discussion of writing assignments, and in-class practice of the topic at hand:

Week 1 - “The hook” - What makes an effective opening

Week 2 - “Let’s talk” - Giving dialogue (or lack of) something to say

Week 3 - “Keeping pace” - Tools for defeating the mid-point slump

Week 4 - “Line and sinker” - Preparing for the end

Instructor: Christina Leo

Dates: Starts Sunday, January 19, 2025 and meets every Sunday for four weeks total (SKIPPING February 2)

Time: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Level: Beginner and above

8 seat max

Location: Quail Ridge Books, 209-100 Lassiter Mill Rd, Raleigh, NC 27609

Cost: $260 for new students, $234 for returning students

$430: true price

$260: base price

$285, $310, $360: donate an extra $25, $50, or $100 to our scholarship fund

A note on pricing:  the “true price” reflects the true cost of the class, which includes paying a fair wage to our staff and instructors, rental fees for the Redbud headquarters and for the community spaces where we host our classes, website and administrative/commerce fees, outreach and advertising to spread the word about our offerings, and the coordination and administration for our community classes, which serve people who could not otherwise access creative writing. We’re not a university or a large corporation and that means we don’t have an operating budget we can rely on; we’re proud to be a small, local, women- and minority-run business that is passionate about bringing the transformative power of the arts to our community. Your tuition helps Redbud with the critical work of keeping the arts accessible to the public. 

We also offer students a chance to donate to our scholarship fund. At check-out, you will be given the option of choosing a donor price. If you choose one of these prices, the extra $25, $50, or $100 will go towards scholarships for students who would not be able to afford our classes otherwise.  Thank you in advance for considering making a contribution to inclusivity and access!

Read the fine print, including our cancellation policy, here.